Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Baobab Tree or the Tree of Life


A Canadian based company BaobabTek has recently been appointed to manage and develop the North American market for Baobab Fruit Company of Senegal (BFCS) in Africa. In 1999 BFCS began by designing specific equipment capable of extracting raw materials from the Baobab Tree. They are now the single largest harvester and producer of Baobab ingredients in the world.


The Baobab Tree is also known as the “Tree of Life”, “The Chemist Tree” and “The Monkey Bread Tree”. The scientific name is Adansonia Digitata. It is a deciduous tree that can reach 30 meters or 90 feet in height and 15 meters or 45 feet in diameter. The swollen, short, bottle shaped trunk can store up to 30,000 gallons of water during the dry season, which serves as water storage for the villages. The Baobab Tree can live up to 5000 years and is protected from fire due to its spongy wood.


Viewed by the native population as their symbol of the Continent and as their Protector, the Baobab is of high importance for humans and animals as it provides them with food and medicine. In traditional African medicine, the Baobab is used to help treat fever, diarrhea, dysentery, malaria, smallpox, and inflammation.


The tree bears fruit once a year, which is harvested by the local population. The fruit contains naturally dehydrated fruit pulp, which is then mechanically separated from the fiber and seeds. The leaves and seeds provide botanical extracts used in a variety of industries. The seed endocarp has naturally occurring Omega 3, 6 and 9.


Dietary fibers (up to 45grams per 100g) soluble fibers (22 grams per 100 grams) make it also a very effective, ingredient as it can help regulate the functions of the colon and intestines. Essential amino acids present in the pulp are a great source of energy. Naturally high in vitamin C (six times that of an orange) the pulp also contains vitamins (A, B1, B2, B6 and PP). Minerals included are (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, iron, sodium, zinc and magnesium).


The Baobab pulp can be used as a natural and functional ingredient in the food industry to make juices, energy drinks, smoothies, ice creams, fruit powders, chewable tablets and cereal bars. In the nutraceutical industries the pulp is used as a natural source of fiber and vitamin C. The seed oil, leaves and bark can serve well in the cosmetic industry to make creams, masks, shampoos, conditioners, lotions and exfoliants. Overall the wide range of usage of the Baobab produce makes it a highly valuable natural resource.


Numerous studies have been conducted and released on the benefits of the Baobab during the last 6 years in Universities and Laboratories.


BaobabTek's mission is to provide the cosmetic, food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries with 100% natural raw materials that can help contribute to personal health and well being. As a by-product we also help enhance the economic development of several villages in Africa.


Finished products are already in circulation in Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain, the UK, Canada and the USA.


NaturalNews, citizen journalist

Baobab Superstar Ingredient for 2010

Nutrition Business Journal is busy pondering the product, ingredient, regulatory, sales channel and other trends we believe will most impact the global nutrition industry in 2010.

Immunity-support ingredients: Even though companies cannot talk about the H1N1 flu virus when talking about their ingredients or products, the current global “freak out” over the swine flu pandemic will benefit all ingredients touting immune-support properties, Runestad said. Such ingredients include antioxidants, beta-glucans and botanicals such as elderberry and echinacea.

Brain boosters: The time appears to be right for new cognitive health products, with everyone from aging Baby Boomers to stressed out professionals to parents of children exhibiting symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) showing growing interest in these types of offerings. Many well-known ingredients, including omega-3s, are well suited to cognitive-related products and have been scientifically studied to support everything from mood to mental clarity. In addition, the market continues to see the introduction of new branded ingredients targeted toward brain health and global conglomerates such as Nestle are investing millions into cognitive health research.


Prebiotics—what every probiotic needs: Research continues to emerge demonstrating that probiotics work better when combined with prebiotic fibers, such as fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS), inulin and galacto-oligosaccaride (GOS), said Runestad, who added that he believes GOS could be the “big winner in the year ahead.” That’s because food formulators are beginning to formulate with GOS, which also benefits from the fact that companies can make fiber claims for it.


The quest for fullness: As NBJ explored in our 2009 Sports Nutrition & Weight-Loss issue (which published in September), consumers are increasingly craving weight-management products made with proven ingredients that help them lose weight the old-fashioned way: by eating less. This quest for satiety is benefiting ingredients such as FOS and GOS and leading to opportunities for branded ingredients such as DSM Nutritional Products’ Fabuless, a new patented palm oil and oat mixture that is billed as a “natural way to feel full faster” and that is cropping up in functional yogurts and milks.


Bring on the baobob: People have been saying it’s time for ingredient sales of this African super fruit to begin blooming for a while now, but the regulatory acceptance of baobob in both the European Union and the United States is likely to finally make such predictions a reality, Runestad said. Baobab is already showing up in personal care products, as well as in “beauty from within” dietary supplements and functional foods. Alaffia makes baobab lotions and lip balms, while Korres now offers an $80 Wild Rose Face & Eye Serum that contains baobab tree extract. The ingredient, made from the African baobab tree, is packed with riboflavin, niacin, and vitamins C, A, D and E. Because it is relatively new, baobab is not backed by as much clinical research as some other super fruits.